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Importing Excel donor contacts into Salesforce shouldn’t wipe out years of relationship data. One wrong import setting and you’ve accidentally overwritten giving history, communication preferences, and custom nonprofit fields that can’t be recreated.
Here’s how to update donor contact information while preserving critical existing data using selective field mapping and UPSERT controls.
Protect existing donor data with selective field updates using Coefficient
Coefficient’s UPSERT functionality provides precise control over which donor contact fields get updated versus preserved during Excel imports. Unlike Salesforce’s Data Import Wizard, which can accidentally overwrite critical donor information, Coefficient allows selective field updates while maintaining existing data integrity.
How to make it work
Step 1. Set up External ID matching for existing donor contacts.
Configure External ID matching using donor ID, email address, or a custom identifier that uniquely identifies each donor. This tells Coefficient which existing contacts to update rather than creating duplicates.
Step 2. Configure UPSERT action instead of INSERT or UPDATE.
In Coefficient’s export settings, select UPSERT action. This updates existing donor contacts when matches are found and creates new contacts when no match exists, giving you the best of both worlds.
Step 3. Map only specific fields for update.
In the field mapping interface, map only the fields you want to update from your Excel data. For example, map new contact information, updated addresses, or communication preferences while leaving other fields unmapped.
Step 4. Leave sensitive fields unmapped to preserve existing data.
Don’t map fields containing critical existing data like giving totals, relationship history, volunteer records, or custom nonprofit fields. Unmapped fields remain untouched during the import process.
Step 5. Use export preview to verify which fields will be modified.
Coefficient’s export preview shows exactly which existing donor contacts will be updated and which specific fields will change. This prevents accidental overwrites of important donor data.
Step 6. Monitor results with detailed tracking.
After the import, Coefficient’s results tracking shows which donor records were modified, providing complete visibility into what changed during the import process.
Update donor data safely and confidently
Selective field updates eliminate the “all or nothing” risk of traditional donor contact imports. With UPSERT controls and field-level mapping, you can update contact information while preserving years of donor relationship data. Start using Coefficient to protect your valuable donor data during imports.
